Review of Spasms (1983) by Daryl G — 21 Jul 2009

Spasms is the hilarious 80's story of a gigantic serpent, which has long haunted the tribes of a remote island, that has finally been captured and is being brought to the states, courtesy of wealthy businessman Oliver Reed (Gladiator, Severed Ties) who survived the snake's attack several years back but has shared a kinetic link to it.

Before it arrives, Reed enlists the help of American scientist Peter Fonda to help better understand the snake. There's a problem though, as snake-crazed religious cult also wants to serpent and enlists the help of seedy men to try and catch it, which fails miserably, leading to a loose snake tearing people's asses apart.

Though there are some nice vintage death scenes courtesy of Dick Smith, the rubber snake is borderline hilarious, as well as its incredible super strength (example: catapulting a woman down a hallway, through a bathroom door and crashing into a glass shower door).

The deaths are blood-drenched though, and it's always fun to see a naked showering chick die, no matter how bizarre or ludicrous the death may seem. Oliver Reed really hams it up, but Fonda seems to be phony his role in to this bag of silly nonsense.

Yes, this movie is terribly dated, and yes, very corny at times, but of course, I found the fun in it and wound up enjoying it immensely. The sub-plot involving the religious cult kinda fades away and goes nowhere, which was a real bummer.

Would have liked to have seen their involvement in it more, especially with the villainous leader. Oh well, still a fun schlock film.